“MATTHEWS, KEENER NORWOOD.  Methodist minister was born August 17, 1876, at Hanover, Coosa County; son of Dr. John Thomas and Sarah Frances Ann (Norwood) Matthews who lived at Greenville, Ga., the former a native of Campbell County, born near Fairburn, Ga., who was a graduate of medical colleges in Atlanta, Ga., and Mobile, and who practiced medicine for more than fifty years.

He attended the public schools of Coosa County, the high school at Hackneyville, Tallapoosa County, and was graduated from Southern University at Greensboro, A.B., 1899.  He became a minister in the North Alabama conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, South; was admitted on trial at Decatur, December, 1900; served the Weogufka circuit two years; the Daviston circuit three years; the Holmes Street church, Hunstville, two years; the Wesley Chapel, Birmingham, one year; Eleventh Avenue church, Birmingham, four years; First church, Decatur; and is at present pastor of the First Methodist church at Anniston.

He is a Democrat; member of the board of missions and of the examining committee of the north Alabama conference; and a Mason.

Married: (1) July 12, 1900, at Hanover, to Mamie Ware, who died June 10, 1903, at Daviston, daughter of Elisha and Ella Ware, of Goodwater; (2) December 21, 1905, at Wedowee, to Eunice Prescott, daughter of Monroe and Nannie Prescott of Wedowee.  Child: Mabel.

Residence: Anniston.”

Source:  History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Vol. 4, by Thomas McAdory Owen and Marie Bankhead Owen, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1921, pages 1176 and 1179